UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Board of Graduate Studies
Minutes of the Board of Graduate Studies meeting held on Wednesday 10 October 2012.
Present:
Professor J Labbe (Chair), Ms A Chowcat, Ms J Cooper, Dr R Dias, Dr A
Dowd, Dr J Kidd, Dr D Leadley, Professor R Napier, Dr A Phillips, Ms A
Stewart, Dr J Vickery, Professor M Wills.
Apologies:
Dr C Bilton, Dr R Earle, Professor F Griffiths, Professor J Neelands,
Professor D Steinberg, Dr P Taylor.
In attendance: Professor S Becker (for item 27/12-13), Ms R Davis (for item 15/12-13), Mrs
N Ellis-Thomas(for item 16/12-13), Mr N Hull (for item 13/12-13), Professor
A Muthoo (for item 27/12-13), Mr D Pearson, Ms K Weir, Mrs R Wooldridge
Smith.
1/12-13
Terms of Reference
REPORTED:
That the terms of reference of the Board were as follows:
(a)
To regulate the admission of all graduate students and, subject to
the Regulations Governing Taught Postgraduate Degrees and the
Regulations Governing Research Degrees, the initial conditions of
registration and any change of these conditions;
(b)
To make recommendations to the Senate, via the Academic Quality
and Standards Committee, after consultation with the Faculty
Boards, Departments and Graduate Studies Committees, if
appropriate, on all matters to do with graduate study in the
University;
(c)
To make recommendations on the appropriate provision of
academic resources and social facilities for postgraduate students in
the University;
(d)
To make awards partly or wholly established from University funds
to graduate students and to nominate students for postgraduate
awards made by external bodies;
(e)
To advise the Senate, via the Academic Quality and Standards
Committee, on any general or specific strategic considerations
regarding postgraduate study or research in the University;
(f)
To review postgraduate courses in the University as required;
(g)
To scrutinise all new postgraduate degree and course proposals and
recommend approval to the Senate via the Academic Quality and
Standards Committee;
(h)
To advise the Academic Quality and Standards Committee on
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matters relating to examinations for postgraduate degrees;
2/12-13
(i)
To advise the Academic Quality and Standards Committee on the
role of internal and external examiners for postgraduate degrees;
(j)
To consider external examiners’ reports, annual course reviews,
strategic departmental review reports and Student Staff Liaison
Committee reports; to intervene with departments where issues
arise and to advise the Academic Quality and Standards Committee
on substantive issues of concern;
(k)
To consider requests for variations to the AP(C/E)L policy, referring
to the Academic Quality and Standards Committee where matters of
principle arise.
Membership of the Board 2012/2013
REPORTED:
3/12-13
(a)
That the membership of the Board for 2012/13 was as set out in
paper BGS 1/12-13 with news on outstanding vacancies to follow;
(b)
That the Education Officer from the Students’ Union would not sit on
the Board of Graduates Studies, but that an additional Postgraduate
Faculty Representative would act as the second co-opted student in
addition to the Students’ Union’s Postgraduate Sabbatical Officer.
Schedule of meetings of the Board
REPORTED:
That the Board would meet subsequently as follows during the academic
year 2012-13:
22 November 2012 at 9.30am in the Council Chamber, University House;
15 January 2013 at 9.30am the Council Chamber, University House;
19 February 2013 at 9.30am in the Council Chamber, University House;
2 May 2013 at 9.30am in the Council Chamber, University House;
6 June 2013 at 9.30am in the Council Chamber, University House.
4/12-13
Terms of Reference of the Graduate Awards and Nominations SubCommittee
REPORTED:
That Professor Labbe had taken Chair’s Action on behalf of the Board to
approve the terms of reference of the Graduate Awards and Nominations
Sub-Committee as follows:
(a)
To exercise delegated authority on behalf of the Board of Graduate
Studies to award scholarships via centrally administered
competitions to the most
academically able applicants and
students for postgraduate taught and research degrees;
(b)
To contribute towards the ranking and scoring of applications to
2
scholarship competitions not administered via central competitions;
5/12-13
(c)
To review the operation and criteria for postgraduate scholarship
competitions on an annual basis and make recommendations to the
Board of Graduate Studies regarding changes, where appropriate;
(d)
To secure the integrity and probity of the award of postgraduate
scholarships at Warwick;
(e)
To respond to University directives concerning the awarding of
University funds and advise the Board of Graduate Studies
accordingly.
Membership of Sub-Committees
Graduate Awards and Nominations Sub-Committee
CONSIDERED:
The election of representatives to the Graduate Awards and Nominations
Sub-Committee, noting that the formal membership was as follows:
(a)
The Chair of the Board as the Chair;
(b)
The Chairs of the Graduate Studies Committees of the Boards of the
Faculties of Arts, Medicine, Science and Social Sciences;
(c)
Four members of the Board, one from each of the Faculties:
Faculty of Arts;
Faculty of Medicine;
Faculty of Science;
Faculty of Social Sciences.
With the additional representation of the following Faculty Selectors (not
Committee members) in determining awards to be made by the University,
two from each Faculty:
(d)
Faculty of Arts;
Faculty of Medicine;
Faculty of Science;
Faculty of Social Sciences.
RESOLVED:
6/12-13
(i)
That members of the Board would be approached to serve on the
Graduate Awards and Nominations Sub-Committee;
(ii)
That Faculty Graduate Studies Committees would nominate
representatives at their next meetings and communicate these
appointments to the Board.
Nomination for Membership of the Board of Undergraduate Studies
3
CONSIDERED:
The nomination of a representative of the Board to serve on the Board of
Undergraduate Studies.
RESOLVED:
That Dr J Vickery serve as the representative of the Board on the Board of
Undergraduate Studies.
7/12-13
Nomination of student member on the University Research Ethics
Committee
CONSIDERED:
The nomination of a student member of the Board to serve on the University
Research Ethics Committee.
RESOLVED:
That the Students’ Union Postgraduate Officer for 2012/13 would coordinate
the nomination of a representative from the Students’ Union to serve as the
student member of the University Research Ethics Committee, once the
Postgraduate Faculty Representatives have been appointed.
8/12-13
Change to Board Secretariat
REPORTED:
9/12-13
(a)
That Dan Pearson, Assistant Registrar (Graduate School) would act
as Secretary to the Board with effect from October 2012;
(b)
That the Board thanked Roberta Wooldridge Smith for her
contribution during her tenure as Secretary to the Board.
Freedom of Information Act: Publication Scheme
REPORTED:
10/12-13
(a)
That the University committed to publishing the minutes, agendas
and non-reserved business of University bodies and committees on
the University website, as part of its Publication Scheme under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000;
(b)
That members of the Board were reminded that minutes of Board
meetings would be published in this way.
Minutes of the last meeting
CONSIDERED:
The minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 7 June 2012.
RESOLVED:
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That the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 7 June 2012 be
approved.
11/12-13
Matters Arising on the Minutes
(a)
Extenuating circumstances (Minutes 60(d) and 36/11-12 referred)
RECEIVED:
The text agreed by Board members subsequent to the last meeting,
for inclusion in online departmental handbooks, (paper BGS 2/1213).
RESOLVED:
That the agreed text be made available on the Graduate School
website, noting that departments should ensure that the statement
was incorporated into departmental handbooks.
(b)
Summer vacation supervision for taught postgraduates (Minute
48/09-10 referred)
CONSIDERED:
A paper from the Secretary summarising feedback from academic
departments on the levels of supervision and support provided to
taught postgraduate students during the summer vacation
dissertation/project phase of a master’s course (paper BGS 3/1213).
RESOLVED:
(c)
(i)
That the Board supported the need for some common
principles of guidance to assist departments in formulating
policies relating to supervision outside of term time;
(ii)
That departments be specific in their guidance about the level
of supervision students can expect to receive outside of term
time, noting that ambiguous phrases such as ‘reasonable’
should be avoided;
(iii)
That the statement should acknowledge that in addition to
academic and research focused activities, supervisors were
entitled to take annual leave during the summer months;
(iv)
That the Graduate School draft a statement of expectations to
be circulated to departments to assist in their preparation of
guidance, and for onward approval by the AQSC and that,
once approved, this be communicated via the Graduate
School newsletter.
Consideration of External Examiners’ reports (Minute 103/11-12
referred)
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REPORTED:
That the AQSC, at its meeting on 7 June, considered the
recommendation from the Board that the relevance of the annual
consideration of the external examiners’ reports for postgraduate
taught programmes by the Board of Graduate Studies be reviewed,
noting that due to timing of meetings of Boards of Examiners,
submission of external examiners’ reports and departmental
responses, the Board was considering reports after up to a year’s
delay and resolved that the Teaching Quality team develop
proposals with the Graduate School for an alternative mechanism
for reviewing postgraduate taught External Examiners’ reports.
(d)
UK Quality Code for Higher Education: Record Keeping of PGR
Supervision (Minute 81/11-12 referred)
REPORTED:
That at its meeting held on 3 May 2012, the Board considered a
paper from the Secretary focussing on departmental record keeping
of PGR supervision and resolved that a more comprehensive insight
into departmental practice concerning the frequency of supervision
and quality of record keeping be undertaken as recommended in
paper BGS 87/11-12.
CONSIDERED:
A paper from the Deputy Academic Registrar setting out the results
of a review of departmental practice and issues arising (paper BGS
4/12-13).
RESOLVED:
(i) That there was a range of approaches in departments with
regard to supervisory practices but that all departments were
required to submit monitoring points for each course to meet
minimum requirements consistent with the University’s
obligations to the UKBA;
(ii) That the Board endorsed a student-led system of supervision
record-keeping as a reflective exercise useful in its own right to
support students’ academic development, noting that such a
system was currently in use in Life Sciences and a number of
other UK universities;
(iii) That the Graduate School investigate electronic systems for
recording supervision, noting that any system specifications
would need to be flexible to accommodate departmental needs;
potentially be adaptable to different levels of study; and be
compatible with the University’s evolving VLE;
(iv) That notwithstanding different departmental cultures with respect
to research student supervision, the Graduate School, and wider
University had articulated through its Guidelines referenced in
6
the paper, a clear expectation of regular supervisory meetings
between student and supervisory team to which it expected all
departments to adhere.
12/12-13
Progress toward Strategy Targets and Planning Business for 2012/2013
CONSIDERED:
(a)
A paper from the Chair setting out the strategic priorities of the
Board over the coming year (paper BGS 5/12-13);
RESOLVED:
That the Board would take forward these priorities in 2012-13.
(b)
A paper from the Deputy Academic Registrar setting out progress
towards the Vision 2015 target of doubling PGR numbers (paper
BGS 6/12-13).
REPORTED:
That the further progress made towards the doubling PGR numbers
target set out in Vision 2015 represented a positive development.
(c)
An oral report from the Chair of the Board discussing the current
position on entry requirements for postgraduate study at Warwick.
REPORTED:
That this be deferred to the next meeting of the Board.
(d)
A paper from the Deputy Academic Registrar on the achievement of
balanced cohorts on postgraduate taught courses, (paper BGS 7/1213).
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Senior Assistant Registrar (Postgraduate Admissions)
be asked to provide a breakdown of current students recruited
from Chinese universities, by tier, and consider whether limiting
recruitment from lower tiers could have negative consequences
for the University, it being noted that continued recruitment from
tiers 3 and 4 might also be reputationally disadvantageous;
(ii) That the new Postgraduate Student Development Officer
(Graduate School), once appointed, and in conjunction with
colleagues from the International Office, conduct a piece of work
relating to the learning experience of postgraduate students in
cohorts containing a dominant group from one international
market, with a specific focus on measures the University might
take to secure the quality and parity of their experience.
13/12-13
Postgraduate Recruitment
CONSIDERED:
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(a)
A report from the Director of the Student Admissions and
Recruitment Office on postgraduate student recruitment numbers for
the 2012-13 academic year (paper BGS 8/12-13).
(b)
A copy of the substantially revised Postgraduate Prospectus for
2012 (paper BGS 9/12-13).
RESOLVED:
14/12-13
(c)
That departments be encouraged to make decisions about
applicants in a timely manner, thereby reducing the number of
outstanding admissions decisions, noting that this was often a factor
in students accepting offers at Warwick;
(d)
That in light of the difficulties in obtaining a visa encountered by
applicants receiving offers in September, the Senior Assistant
Registrar (Postgraduate Admissions) be asked to write a paper for
the next meeting of the Board considering the feasibility of setting a
deadline for the issue of offers to overseas students for
postgraduate taught courses;
(e)
That Postgraduate Admissions produce further information, on a
country-by-country basis, regarding those countries in which it was
more difficult to obtain a visa at a late stage of the admissions cycle,
the better to guide departments as to applicants’ likelihood of
success in securing a visa, as a function of the timing of their
application.
Chair’s Business
(a)
AHRC BGP 2
REPORTED:
That the Chair of the Board would provide an update on the
development of the AHRC BGP 2 submission by correspondence.
(b)
PGR scholarship nomination quotas for DTCs (Minute 96(d)/-11-12
referred)
REPORTED:
That the Chair of the Board would provide an update on PGR
scholarship nomination quotas for DTCs by correspondence.
(c)
DGS induction/refresher session, 24 October 2012.
REPORTED:
That a DGS induction/refresher session would take place in the PG
Hub on 24 October 2012, 12-2pm.
(d)
Summer recall of library books from PG students.
8
REPORTED:
That discussion about the summer recall of library books from
postgraduate students be deferred to the next meeting of the Board.
(e)
Postgraduate Conference, 21 November 2012.
REPORTED:
That the Postgraduate Conference, to be held jointly with SARO and
the Graduate School and incorporating SARO’s annual PG
selectors’ conference, would take place on 21 November 2012.
(f)
Fee structures for visiting postgraduate research students from
strategic global partner institutions.
REPORTED:
That discussion about fee structures for visiting postgraduate
research students from strategic global partner institutions be
deferred to the next meeting of the Board.
(g)
Outcome of funding bids in 2012 (paper BGS 10/12-13)
REPORTED:
(h)
(i)
That the Hardship Fund that assisted students during the
2011-12 academic year be continued and formalised as a
‘Thesis Completion Hardship Grant’, aimed at students
nearing the end of their registration period and allowing
funding to cover no more than the first three months of an
extension period;
(ii)
That the maximum rate of funding available to students be
half the Research Council rate, to be reviewed in individual
cases depending upon the level of hardship presented;
(ii)
That applications be received at any point of the year, noting
that decisions would be made at the time that applications
were received, resulting in grant availability ceasing once all
funds had been allocated in the academic year;
(iii)
That the Graduate School endeavour to monitor progress of
students in receipt of the grant on a monthly basis to enable
funding to be withdrawn where it was not being utilised
appropriately.
Fulbright Summer Institute
REPORTED:
That the Chair of the Board would provide an update on the
Fulbright Summer Institute by correspondence.
(i)
Fulbright Administrator Seminar
9
REPORTED:
That the Chair of the Board would provide an update on the
Fulbright Administrator Seminar by correspondence.
15/12-13
Warwick Portfolio
CONSIDERED:
A report from the Head of Student Development on progress with the
development and launch of the Warwick Portfolio (paper BGS 11/12-13).
RESOLVED:
16/12-13
(a)
That the new Postgraduate Student Development Officer (Graduate
School), once appointed, make a report to the Board on the
progress of the Warwick Portfolio on a regular basis;
(b)
That all stakeholders in the Portfolio should be engaged in its
development, including full briefings for advocates on faculty-specific
programmes such as the PGCTSS.
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2012
RECEIVED:
(a)
A detailed analysis of Warwick PTES 2012 results (paper BGS
12/12-13);
(b)
Detailed Warwick PTES 2012 results with the Russell Group
aggregate results benchmark (paper BGS 13/12-13);
(c)
PTES 2012 Report (paper BGS 14/12-13).
RESOLVED:
17/12-13
(d)
That the PTES response rate was higher than in previous years and
that the University should continue to encourage students to engage
with such surveys;
(e)
That the Graduate School clarify the inconsistencies of message
with regard to feedback highlighted in the report, it being noted that
data recorded for specific faculties/departments might be at odds
with general trends reported;
(f)
That the Graduate Studies Committees for Arts and Science be
provided with PTES data specific to their faculty, for consideration to
be given to their results in the areas of assessment and feedback, to
see if any reasons for lower than average scores could be identified.
Postgraduate Student Residential Accommodation Strategy
CONSIDERED:
10
A paper from the Deputy Academic Registrar on issues raised at the PGR
Recruitment Group relating to the University’s current postgraduate student
residential accommodation strategy, noting a correction to the paper
reported orally at the meeting confirming that students’ fees status was
borne in mind when allocating postgraduate students rooms on campus
after undergraduate students had been accommodated (paper BGS 15/1213).
RESOLVED:
18/12-13
(a)
That any changes in policy should note that EU students shared
many of the same issues as overseas students in obtaining
accommodation and should be equally prioritised;
(b)
That the Board endorsed the principle that non-UK postgraduate
students should take higher priority than final year undergraduate
students in the allocation of campus-based accommodation;
(c)
That the Board strongly supported the availability of flexible shortterm campus-based accommodation, accepting that this might
result in a decline in overall occupancy and therefore income and
that it be recommended to the University that structural mechanisms
be put in place to enable them to manage this necessary flexibility;
(d)
That the discussions held at the International Committee, and
between the Chair of the Board and the Head of the Centre for
Applied Linguistics, complemented the Board’s discussions and
should be communicated to the relevant individuals and bodies.
Interim PGT Exam Boards
CONSIDERED:
A paper from the Deputy Academic Registrar proposing the establishment
of interim Taught Postgraduate Boards of Examiners in order to comply with
UKBA reporting requirements (paper BGS 16/12-13).
RESOLVED:
That relevant departments institute interim exam boards to enable them
formally to consider the position of weaker candidates and recommend exit
with a lower qualification, where appropriate, at the earliest possible
opportunity, to ensure that the University met its obligations with respect to
the UKBA and enabling students to be provided with evidence of their
achievement earlier than was currently possible.
19/12-13
PGR Annual Review
CONSIDERED:
A paper from the Assistant Secretary providing an update on progress with
the implementation of the electronic annual report form mechanism (paper
BGS 17/12-13).
RESOLVED:
11
20/12-13
(a)
That the Board reiterated its support for the new electronic annual
reporting system;
(b)
That the Graduate School redistribute guidance to departments
about the process for gaining access to e-Vision;
(c)
That the Graduate School discuss with colleagues in the
Management Information and Planning Office ways in which to
identify supervisors who have not gained access to e-Vision, or have
not yet completed their sections of students’ annual report forms;
(d)
That the Graduate School seek positive feedback from students
about the online system, which could then be fed back to
departments;
(e)
That the Graduate School run a demonstration of the system within
the DGS induction and PG conference in order to dispel any
potential concerns about the system.
Risk Assessment
REPORTED:
That the Board, at its meeting held on 7 June 2012, considered a paper
from the Senior Assistant Registrar (Governance, Risk and Business
Continuity) and resolved that risk identification and assessment be
considered by the Board as a standing item on a termly basis and be an
element of consideration of all proposals before the Board.
21/12-13
OIA Annual Letter
RECEIVED:
The OIA’s Annual Letter, outlining the number of complaint and appeals
considered by the OIA in the last year (paper BGS 18/12-13).
22/12-13
Chair’s Action
RECEIVED:
A report on items approved by the Chair on behalf of the Board (paper BGS
19/12-13), as follows:
(a)
Faculty of Science
(i)
Department of Computer Science
Revision of MSc in Cognitive Systems (minute BGS
113(c)(i)/11-12 and draft unconfirmed minute SGS 41/11-12
refer)
REPORTED:
(A)
That, at its meeting on 7 June 2012, the Board
12
considered a proposal from the Department of
Computer Science to revise the ‘Master of Science in
Cognitive Systems’ course as set out in paper SGS
60/11-12, and resolved that the proposal be
approved, subject to clarification of reference to
undergraduate modules and provision of full
information on overall course structure and CATS.
(B)
(ii)
That clarification of reference to undergraduate
modules and full information on overall course
structure and CATS has been received from the
Department of Computer Science and that the Chair
of the Board, acting on its behalf, had subsequently
taken action to approve the revision of the ‘Master of
Science in Cognitive Systems’ course.
Department of Engineering
Revision of Engineering Doctorate (International)
That the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had taken
action to approve the proposal to revise the Engineering
Doctorate (International) as set out in the paper SGS 116/1011.
(iii)
Complexity Science
Direct entry route onto PhD in Complexity Science
REPORTED:
That the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had taken
action to approve the addition of a direct entry route onto the
PhD in Complexity Science for candidates who are
considered to have undertaken appropriate MSc study and
PhD preparation equivalent to that given in the MSc in
Complexity Science.
(b)
Faculty of Medicine
(i)
MSc in Health Sciences (Plastic Surgery) (minute BGS
112(b)/11-12 and draft unconfirmed minute GSCFM
44(b)/11-12 refer)
REPORTED:
(A)
That, at its meeting at its meeting on 7 June 2012, the
Board considered a proposal from Warwick Medical
School to introduce the ‘Master of Science in Health
Sciences (Plastic Surgery)’ course as set out in
papers M&CPD SC 17/11-12 (revised 4), M&CPD SC
38-39/11-12, M&CPD SC 41/11-12 (revised), and
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BGS 106&130-131/11-12 and resolved that the
proposal be approved, subject to clarification
regarding the stability of the course due to the high
percentage of honorary teaching staff.
(B)
(ii)
That clarification regarding the stability of the course
due to the high percentage of honorary teaching staff
has been received from Warwick Medical School and
that the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had
subsequently taken action to approve the introduction
of the ‘Master of Science in Health Sciences (Plastic
Surgery)’ course, with the proviso that the
arrangements should be reviewed after the first full
year of the course to make sure that they are
adequate for quality assurance and student
experience issues.
MSc in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
REPORTED:
(iii)
(A)
That the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee of
the Faculty of Medicine, acting on its behalf, took
action to approve the proposal to revise the ‘MSc in
Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research’ course, as set
out in the papers M&CPD SC 53/11-12 (revised) and
M&CPD SC 57/11-12 (revised).
(B)
That the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had
subsequently taken action to approve the proposal to
revise the ‘MSc in Interdisciplinary Biomedical
Research’ course.
MSc in Research Methods in Health Sciences (minute BGS
113(b)(i)/11-12 and draft unconfirmed minute GSCFM
44(d)/11-12 refer)
REPORTED:
(A)
That, at its meeting at its meeting on 7 June 2012, the
Board considered a proposal from Warwick Medical
School to revise the ‘Master of Science in Research
Methods in Health Sciences’ course as set out in
paper M&SPD SC 7/11-12 (revised) and resolved that
the proposal be approved for October 2013 to allow
time for SSLC consultation and external consultation.
(B)
That further information regarding the course had
been received from Warwick Medical School, and the
Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had
subsequently taken action to approve the proposal for
the revision to the ‘Master of Science in Research
Methods in Health Sciences’ course to take effect
14
from October 2012.
(iv)
MSc in Oral Surgery (minute BGS 70(c)(i)/11-12 and
GSCFM 23(b)/11-12 refer)
REPORTED:
(c)
(A)
That, at its meeting on 24 February 2012, the Board
considered a proposal from Warwick Medical School
to introduce a new course entitled ‘Master of Science
in Oral Surgery’ as set out in papers DMAP SC 11/1011 (revised 4) and GSCFM 9/11-12 and resolved that
the proposal be approved, subject to approval by the
Collaborative Flexible and Distributed Learning SubCommittee.
(B)
That the Chair of the Collaborative Flexible and
Distributed Learning Sub-Committee, acting on its
behalf, took action to approve the proposal, and that
the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had
subsequently taken action to approve the proposal to
introduce a new course entitled ‘Master of Science in
Oral Surgery’.
Faculty of Social Sciences
(i)
Institute of Education
MA in the Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare (minute BGS
54(b)(ii)/11-12 refers)
REPORTED:
(d)
(A)
That, at its meeting on 16 January 2012, the Board
considered a proposal for approval to establish a new
course entitled “MA in the Advanced Teaching of
Shakespeare”, as set out in papers BGS 47/11-12,
48/11-12, 49/11-12 and 50/11-12, and resolved that
the proposal be approved in principle.
(B)
That the Chair of Board, acting on its behalf, had
approved a revised proposal for the new course
entitled “MA in the Advanced Teaching of
Shakespeare”, as outlined in paper BGS 135/11-12.
Faculty of Arts
(i)
Department of Hispanic Studies
(A)
PhD in Hispanic Studies
REPORTED:
1. That the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee of the
15
Faculty of Arts, acting on its behalf, took action to
approve the proposal to introduce the “PhD in Hispanic
Studies” course as set out in the papers AGSC 03/12-13
and AGSC 04/12-13.
2. That the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had
subsequently taken action to approve the proposal to
introduce the “PhD in Hispanic Studies” course.
(B) MA by Research in in Hispanic Studies
REPORTED:
1. That the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee of the
Faculty of Arts, acting on its behalf, took action to approve
the proposal to introduce the “MA by Research in Hispanic
Studies” course as set out in the papers AGSC 01/12-13
and AGSC 02/12-13.
2. That the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had
subsequently taken action to approve the proposal to
introduce the “MA by Research in Hispanic Studies”
course.
(ii)
Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies
(minute BGS 70/11-12(b) refers)
REPORTED:
(A)
That, at its meeting on 24 February 2012, the Board
considered a proposal from the Department of English
and Comparative Literary Studies to introduce a new
course entitled ‘Master of Arts in World Literature’ as
set out in papers AGSC 12a-d/11-12 and oral report
from Professor S Shapiro and resolved that the
proposal be approved, subject to conditions set by the
Graduate Studies Committee of the Board of the
Faculty of Arts, clarification of prerequisite/exclusive
relationship between modules, clarification of length of
part-time variant and clarification of whether the course
is designed to be independently funded.
(B)
That the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee of
the Faculty of Arts, acting on its behalf, took action to
approve the proposal.
(C)
That clarification of prerequisite/exclusive relationship
between modules, length of part-time variant, and
whether the course is designed to be independently
funded had been received, and the Chair of the Board,
acting on its behalf, hasd subsequently taken action to
approve the proposal to introduce a new course
entitled ‘Master of Arts in World Literature’.
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(e)
Guide to Examinations for Higher Degrees by Research
REPORTED:
That the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had taken action to
approve minor amendments to the Guide to Examinations for Higher
Degrees by Research reflecting changes approved by the Board relating to
the role of Examination Advisors, declaration for theses submitted within the
Faculties of Medicine and Science and changes to University Regulations
approved by the Senate in July 2012.
(f)
Course Proposal Form (CA1)
REPORTED:
That the Chair of the Board, acting on its behalf, had taken action to
approve minor amendments to course proposal form (CA1) reflecting
changes in hyperlinks and clarifying areas that external advisers should
comment on, including a specific reference to the QAA Subject Benchmark
Statements.
23/12-13
Postgraduate Association and the Students’ Union
RECEIVED:
An oral report from the Postgraduate Sabbatical Officer.
24/12-13
Monash/Warwick joint PhD handbook
RECEIVED:
A copy of the handbook developed over the summer vacation for joint
Warwick/Monash doctoral courses (paper BGS 20/12-13).
REPORTED:
That recruitment to the joint Warwick/Monash doctoral courses was
anticipated to commence in early 2013.
25/12-13
Postgraduate Admissions Statement
RECEIVED:
A revised Postgraduate Admissions Statement from the Senior Assistant
Registrar (Postgraduate Admissions) (paper BGS 21/12-13).
RESOLVED:
(a)
That a recommendation be made by the Senior Assistant Registrar
(Postgraduate Admissions) to section E. 7. of the Postgraduate
Admissions Statement to state ‘The University aims to make
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decisions on complete applications for taught courses in four to six
weeks…’, to account for decisions taking longer than this being
made on incomplete applications;
(b)
26/12-13
That members be invited to feed back to the Senior Assistant
Registrar (Postgraduate Admissions) any comments or suggestions
for further amendment as soon as possible.
Graduate School Newsletter
RECEIVED:
The Summer 2012 newsletter issued by the Graduate School since the last
meeting of the Board (paper BGS 22/12-13, previously circulated and
available
at
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/academicoffice/gsp/warwick_staff/newsl
etters/newsletter-0712-copy/ it being noted that an autumn 2012 had also
since been issued, also available online.
27/12-13
New Course Proposal
Department of Economics
MRes in Economics
CONSIDERED:
A proposal from the Department of Economics to introduce an ‘MRes in
Economics’, as set out in paper BGS 23/12-13.
RESOLVED:
That the proposal be approved in principle, noting the following:
28/12-13
(a)
That there needed to be clarification on the fees structure, which
would be considered by the Academic Activities Sub-Committee;
(b)
That there was concern expressed regarding the intention to hold
three taught modules over two terms, noting that a model of a
Postgraduate Diploma rather than Taught Masters qualification may
be more appropriate in the circumstances;
(c)
That the award of lower qualifications should be included at the
progression exam board;
(d)
That the University’s pass mark for Postgraduate Taught
programmes is 50% and the taught components of the MRes should
be amended in line with this policy.
Next meeting
REPORTED:
That the next meeting of the Board would be Thursday 22 November 2012
at 9.30am in the Council Chamber, University House
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HRWS/DP/KW 01.10.12
Records & Finance/BGS/2012-13/2012.10.10/BGS MINUTES October 12
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